Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-10
MILITIA MATTERS.
Progress OF the Organizations Com
posing the District National Guard.

posing the District National Guard.
rIos OF oFFIcERs-rHE SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER
CONGRESSIONAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NOTES
FROM THE ARxoRIKs
'sThe whole system of modern warfare is to open
order fight" remarked Gen. Ordway, In a CONVEX
sation about the ancient and modern methods OF
| Fighting. "In Napoleon's time the system con-
| sisted mainly OF throwing solid ranks OF men or
columns OF regiments against the enemy and con-
querfng by sheer force. The employment OF such
means In these days Of breech-loading repeating
| rifles, would be likely to prove disastrous; espe-
clally Is this true when one remembers that rifles
now are manufactured to kill at q distance OF q
thousand yards No, the modern system is to
throw out clouds Of skirmishers and push them
gradually forward. This gives to the private SOL
der OF to-day good deal more individuality than
he had In ancient times. He Ii required TO pos
both OF which he owes often to the Instruction
which he receives individually. IL Is therefore
necessary that soldiers should be thoroughly In
structed In the use OF the rife"
During the month OF January the inspector gen.
eral Will make an inspection OF the militia This
VIII probably consume the better part OF the
month"; az IL VIII be necessary for him to visit each
test the men, note their condition, and md out
what progress has been made. The knowledge OF
ana on drtll night the armories present scenes OF
gratifying activity.
Next wednesday the school Of the ofrlcer will
be enlivened by lecture by Lieut. Finley. of the
ling in the daytime by sun flashes from mirror
and at night by torches There is no doubt that
the officers win find much to interest them in
Gen Ordway said to-day that Washing
ton is a splendid city In which to de-
militia There are so many tsiesraph operators
employed here who could easily learn the code OF
signals that might be adopted Mr.. J. M. Field, OF
perienced telegrapher, has undertaken TO organize
such company. Already a number OF his Fellow
employees have signified their Willingness to join
such an organization. 1t Is proposed to organize
company OF thirty-fve men, commanded by
frst lieutenant, with Two sergeants and two cor:
poralS They will be classified as diSmouDted
cavalry, armed with sling carDines and carrying
the regulation signal kit OF the q. s corps About
twenty Young men have already slgnifed their IN
Morse code OF signals will be adopted in prefer
ence TO the Meyer code, owing to the slowness OF
the latter. There is but one similar organization
in the country, IL Is thought, and that Is in con-
nection with the militia forces OF Massachusetts,.
A meeting OF the projectors viii probably be held
ton.
Thedeclination by Mfr. Jesse Bassett of the major
ship OF the 4th battalion was a disappointment,
TO the , 81 h Ra VA
now be necessary TO hold another election. Capt.
s. E. Thomson, of Co. ID QOgan Camp Guard),
was elected, aid It is now believed that II another
election Is held the officers will unite and accept
him. capt. ThomasOn is regarded as fully COM
petent to assume command OF such an Important
battalion as the fourth promises to be.
The statement that Major NJ. Emmett Urell, Of
the 2d, has been ordered before the examining
board for promotion is incorrect. Major Urell is
not required to go before the examining board as,
being IN the service he Is In the line OF promotion
Gen. 0rdway states that the majors commission
viii In all likelihood be signed by the President
I S4furh4V n
pointment as Northumberland OF the list regi-
nent, when the consolidation takes place, is very
gard their major as q model soldier. II is claimed
that too much care cannot be exercised In select
Ing men for the prominent positions In the militia
Not only should they be good soldiers, but also
men Of high standing In the community,
whose association with the militia would
raise Its moral as wen as social tone.
In other cities the commanding ofricers OF the
regiments and companies are men OF considerable
Importance in the business community, and the
merchants and other business men. The District
militia will endeavor TO be In the front rank In
this respect.
A STAR reporter paid visit on Tuesday night to
Cosmopolitan Hall, on the corner OF sth and
streets northwest, where company d (Merchants'
Riffes), OF the Sd battalion. have their armOry.
He found Captain Costinett and his able 1st lieu
tenant, A. A. King, hard at work 1nstructing the
boys In the individual school OF the soldier About
thirty men were stationed, without guns, at regu-
lar intervals around the hall, and Captain C0stf-
nett put them through sucn exercises as
coming TO attention, breaking ranks place rest,
&C. To all appearance this company is one Of the
most fiourishing In the District. Capt. C0st1nett
says that he has sixty mine active members and as
many honorary members, but still he wants more.
Blunt. he is doing his best to create and foster a
spirit of competition among hts men He has had
two handsome silver medals made, which he will
give to the best drilled man and the best lille shot
In the company. But as they have only worn the
uniform since last July the medal for shooting
for the aei best win probably be Competed
on New Years Day.
Exercise IN marching movements will have to be
stopped by several OF the companies when real
wiBtry weather sets in; This Is unfortunate, as
some OF The companies have very small armories
In which il Is barely possible to drill the In
squads throughout the winter or until the weather
emphasizes the demand Tor armories Of sufficient
size TO quarter and permit the drilling OF whole
companies
Company D logan Camp Guard), of the fourth.
are fast being worked into shape by Capt. Thom-
ason. Last Tuesday night they spent several
hours on the streets In front OF their armory on
the corner OF sth and streets northwest IN drill
ing In various marching movements. The one thing
noticeable TO the observer was the excellent time
maintained, even when the order to march 10 the
rear was given. They moved one man, and re-
ceived and obeyed orders like veterans. Capt.
Thomson feels deep interest In their welfare,
iInbued with a soldierly spirit.
General Ordway says that the secretary of War
has promised to secure the Introduction of the
District militia bill into Congress at the earliest
opportunity this session. When he handed the
secretary, recently, the draft OF bill which he
had prepared, General Ordway says the Secretary
expressed himself In favor Of such legislation as
had been outlined as necessary to perfect the
organization Of the militia, and said he would lend
ali the aid in his power 10 securing its passage
through both houses Of Congress-.
The school OF the soldier Is weekly becoming
| more interesting. On Thursday evening there
were, IN addition TO Gen Ordway, Coils BigeIOw
and Moore, and Capts Clay and Gale, about thirty
| Officers present Gen. Ordway gave an instructive
lecture upon the relations OF The officer and prt-
vate He said that In . certain sense the officer
| OF company bears the same relation TO his men
| as father TO his family. 1t Is the duty Of the
officer 20 teach them TO fix In their minds certain
principles and ideas, so that when they are called
upon 10 render service 10 their country they may
\ have gained certain amount OF knowledge OF
| what service they are expected To perform and
| handing officers Gen. Ordway said that he
| recognized the fact that the discipline OF the
militia cannot BE- as strictly maintained as 1t is In
the Regular Army for the reason that the service
only that but In the District the
/ men actually pay for the privilege
| He held that discipline Is an Instructive matter
which men gain only by experience III an officer
wishes 10 instIl into the minds OF his men certain
standpoint OF instruction, not OF arbitrary author
| lily. lie should teach the men why thing to be
done Eight should be done In particular way. IL
| the men are approached In this way 1t will be
l found that they very quickly divine the officers
| Intentions, and will Yield ready obedience to
the discipline. But they would not do this II arbl.
trary measures were adopted.